1. Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union on June 1, 1792, and June 12 marks the date that Kentucky was officially admitted to the United States.
2. On June 12, 1838, the first issue of the Louisville Journal newspaper was published. The newspaper became a prominent voice in Kentucky politics and was owned by George Prentice, who was a vocal opponent of slavery.
3. In 1841, Abraham Lincoln visited Kentucky for the first time. He delivered a speech in the state capital of Frankfort on June 12, where he spoke about the importance of preserving the Union.
4. On June 12, 1942, the Fort Knox tank training center in Kentucky received its first shipment of tanks. The center was established during World War II and played a crucial role in training soldiers for armored warfare.
5. In 2013, Kentucky celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. Mary Todd Lincoln was born in Lexington, Kentucky on December 13, 1818, and her childhood home is now a museum. On June 12, 2013, the museum held a special event to commemorate her birthday.